The Unleashing
Page 107
Tessa slit the throat of the man in her arms and dropped his body to the floor. Now that their leader was dead, it was easier to kill the subordinates.
Chloe pushed her hair off her face with the back of her hand and demanded, Where the hell have you been, Watson?
Asgard.
Tessa took a step back. What?
Yeah. Its a long story. Anyway, while I was there, Freyja asked me to get a necklace back for her. She said it would answer our questions about the runes we found in Catalina.
It was like the world had abruptly stopped. The Crows were so focused on Kera that they didnt even bother to stop the men from making a run for it.
Freyja . . . talked to you?
Uh-huh. Kera reached behind her and grabbed a weapon she had strapped to her back. She held it up. It was a hammer. She gave me this.
Tessa took the hammer and shuddered. So much power. Why would you need so much power?
I have no idea. But Vig says he thinks he can track the coven down for us again through the Isa. Im just waiting for him to text me the address.
They all stood there a long moment, staring at each other, until Erin finally asked, Im sorry . . . whats happening?
With the bracelet and ring obtained and the threat of the man whod taken the items gone, Kera stood before her sister-Crows and quickly told them about her time in Asgard.
They all listened, silent. When Kera finished, Chloe studied her for a long time, until she finally said, I cant believe you actually met goddamn Katharine Hepburn.
She was amazing.
Who else did you meet?
Chloe? Tessa pushed. Perhaps we could have that particular discussion at another time?
Whats there to discuss? Our sister-Crow needs us and well be there. Were just waiting to see if her terrifying boyfriend gets the address in a timely manner.
Hes not terrifying, Kera said. Hes sweet.
Awwwww, the Crows replied as one.
Someones in love! Yardley tossed in.
Before Kera could try out her new hammer on her fellow Crows, her phone vibrated. She looked at the screen.
We have an address. In Santa Monica. Vig sent another text and this time Kera cringed. Shit.
What?
Friedas already sent out a team to the same location.
Frieda? Of the Giant Killers? Chloe tensed. Why? she growled.
Vig doesnt know. But the Ravens are already on the move.
Fine. Well find out when we get there. Chloe motioned to the Crows. Lets go, sisters. She walked past Kera, patting her shoulder asshe did.
Erin stepped in front of Kera. You all right?
Yeah. I do wonder, though, she said, pointing at Brodie, why my dog has wings. And metal jaws.
Well talk about that later.
Probably for the best.
I do have a question for you, though.
What?
Erin slid her hand behind Keras neck and pulled her down until their foreheads pressed together.
You let Ludvig Rundstm take you to Asgard? she asked.
He didnt tell me that was what he was going to do until we got there. But I did punch him in the face for it.
Erin closed her eyes and smiled. I have taught you so well.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The Ravens landed near the Santa Monica tea shop. It was late, everything closed down for the night. But still, there was something . . .
Somethings wrong, Stieg said low.
And Vig knew he was right.
Wings fluttered above them and the Crows arrived, landing near them in the parking lot.
Something was definitely wrong, but none of them knew what it was.
Josef moved over to Chloe, whispered in her ear. This time, she didnt try to stab him or bite him or get another restraining order. Because now, they were thinking of battle rather than petty bullshit.
Chloe motioned to Tessa and the second in command headed up to the tea shops roof to look through the skylight.
After a few seconds, she ran to the edge of the roof, dropped to her knees, and leaned over so she could see the two leaders, her eyes wide with shock.
They stood in the middle of the carnage. There were bodies everywhere. Pieces of bodies everywhere. And heads in piles.
Someone had had quite a time.
Theyre not all Killers, Annalisa remarked, walking among the slain. The witches are here, too.
All of them? Kera asked.
I dont know yet. She started counting.
I see claw marks, Stieg noted. Shifters, maybe?
No way. Rolf shook his head. The Clans have had a truce with the shifters for half a millennium. And considering the war we had before that truce . . . I doubt anyone would start that shit again.
A war started by Lokis wolves. Maybe theyre trying again.
We have a problem, Tessa abruptly announced.
Tessa crouched by several bodies and picked something up off the ground.
What is that? Kera asked.
Its straw.
Kera jumped, shocked by the others reactions. The Crows pulled their weapons from their sheaths and the Ravens reached down and grabbed the weapons from the dead Killers.
Chloe pushed her hair off her face with the back of her hand and demanded, Where the hell have you been, Watson?
Asgard.
Tessa took a step back. What?
Yeah. Its a long story. Anyway, while I was there, Freyja asked me to get a necklace back for her. She said it would answer our questions about the runes we found in Catalina.
It was like the world had abruptly stopped. The Crows were so focused on Kera that they didnt even bother to stop the men from making a run for it.
Freyja . . . talked to you?
Uh-huh. Kera reached behind her and grabbed a weapon she had strapped to her back. She held it up. It was a hammer. She gave me this.
Tessa took the hammer and shuddered. So much power. Why would you need so much power?
I have no idea. But Vig says he thinks he can track the coven down for us again through the Isa. Im just waiting for him to text me the address.
They all stood there a long moment, staring at each other, until Erin finally asked, Im sorry . . . whats happening?
With the bracelet and ring obtained and the threat of the man whod taken the items gone, Kera stood before her sister-Crows and quickly told them about her time in Asgard.
They all listened, silent. When Kera finished, Chloe studied her for a long time, until she finally said, I cant believe you actually met goddamn Katharine Hepburn.
She was amazing.
Who else did you meet?
Chloe? Tessa pushed. Perhaps we could have that particular discussion at another time?
Whats there to discuss? Our sister-Crow needs us and well be there. Were just waiting to see if her terrifying boyfriend gets the address in a timely manner.
Hes not terrifying, Kera said. Hes sweet.
Awwwww, the Crows replied as one.
Someones in love! Yardley tossed in.
Before Kera could try out her new hammer on her fellow Crows, her phone vibrated. She looked at the screen.
We have an address. In Santa Monica. Vig sent another text and this time Kera cringed. Shit.
What?
Friedas already sent out a team to the same location.
Frieda? Of the Giant Killers? Chloe tensed. Why? she growled.
Vig doesnt know. But the Ravens are already on the move.
Fine. Well find out when we get there. Chloe motioned to the Crows. Lets go, sisters. She walked past Kera, patting her shoulder asshe did.
Erin stepped in front of Kera. You all right?
Yeah. I do wonder, though, she said, pointing at Brodie, why my dog has wings. And metal jaws.
Well talk about that later.
Probably for the best.
I do have a question for you, though.
What?
Erin slid her hand behind Keras neck and pulled her down until their foreheads pressed together.
You let Ludvig Rundstm take you to Asgard? she asked.
He didnt tell me that was what he was going to do until we got there. But I did punch him in the face for it.
Erin closed her eyes and smiled. I have taught you so well.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The Ravens landed near the Santa Monica tea shop. It was late, everything closed down for the night. But still, there was something . . .
Somethings wrong, Stieg said low.
And Vig knew he was right.
Wings fluttered above them and the Crows arrived, landing near them in the parking lot.
Something was definitely wrong, but none of them knew what it was.
Josef moved over to Chloe, whispered in her ear. This time, she didnt try to stab him or bite him or get another restraining order. Because now, they were thinking of battle rather than petty bullshit.
Chloe motioned to Tessa and the second in command headed up to the tea shops roof to look through the skylight.
After a few seconds, she ran to the edge of the roof, dropped to her knees, and leaned over so she could see the two leaders, her eyes wide with shock.
They stood in the middle of the carnage. There were bodies everywhere. Pieces of bodies everywhere. And heads in piles.
Someone had had quite a time.
Theyre not all Killers, Annalisa remarked, walking among the slain. The witches are here, too.
All of them? Kera asked.
I dont know yet. She started counting.
I see claw marks, Stieg noted. Shifters, maybe?
No way. Rolf shook his head. The Clans have had a truce with the shifters for half a millennium. And considering the war we had before that truce . . . I doubt anyone would start that shit again.
A war started by Lokis wolves. Maybe theyre trying again.
We have a problem, Tessa abruptly announced.
Tessa crouched by several bodies and picked something up off the ground.
What is that? Kera asked.
Its straw.
Kera jumped, shocked by the others reactions. The Crows pulled their weapons from their sheaths and the Ravens reached down and grabbed the weapons from the dead Killers.
